Abstract:
Introduction: Although care-seeking interventions have the potential to considerably,
reduce child mortality in developing countries, large number of children die due to delays
in seeking care. Inability to recognize potentially life-threatening conditions and diverse
care-seeking practices were factors of caregivers to delays in seeking care. Therefore,
the purpose of this study is to assess mother's/ caregivers health seeking behaviors for
common childhood illness and identifying associated factors in order to improve child
health.
Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude of health seeking
behaviors to common childhood illness among mothers/care-givers having under five
children and associated factors on model and non-model kebeles Habru district, North
Wollo, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020.
Methods: A community based comparative cross-sectional study were employed. The
sample size was determined by using double population proportion formula and design
effect of 1.5 considered. A multi-stage stratified sampling technique used to select the
kebeles and households. Three hundred forty three caregivers selected from each model
and no-model kebele proportionally. All variables found significantly associated with
health care seeking behavior at p-value <0.2 in the bivariate analysis entered into the
multivariate model, and adjusted odds ratios with the 95% confidence intervals
corresponding to variables included in a model .
Result: 343 caregivers for each model and non-model kebeles were included in the
study. The overall HSB of mothers/caregivers were 73.6%: 95%CI (68.5, 77.8) and
58.6%: 95%CI (53.4, 63.8) model and non-model kebele respectively. Type of kebele
(Model) [2.1, 95%CI (1.3-3.4)], child age <=11 months [3.5, 95%CI (1.9-7.6)], and
perception of severity of illness (Severe) [2.7, 95%CI (1.6-3.9)] were independent
predictors of seeking behavior in the district.
Conclusion and recommendation: type of kebele has an effect on the
mothers/caregivers health care seeking behaviors for common childhood illness. It is
better to give enfacies for non-model kebele mothers to seek health care regardless of
the severity of illness and types of illnesses
